I129F April 2017 filers

[Mike & Tuyen 598]

2 hours ago, spike198 said:

Hi everyone!  Just reading through all the new comments about changing the page on the calendar and being excited about it becoming July.  I thought it was just me but apparently not!  Normally I won't wish away my summer because I love it so much, but this year is the exception to the rule! 

LOL July is our summer here in the PNW! Our 4 seasons are rainy, snowy, drizzly, and July.  But I'll be more than happy to sacrifice my summer this year to be with my love.

[tcovington 175]

On 6/28/2017 at 6:14 PM, lon552 said:

They won't tell you anything more than what you will find on the USCIS website processing time. The last update posted on April 30th put the date at January 15th so that's the date they will quote until another update is posted. It's never been less than a month outdated since I started following the VJ timelines. If you're processing time is past their published date you can then start to escalate it with no guarantee you'll get any more information than you already have. 

I think it depends more so on the niceness of the customer service agent or ISO agent you get. I've had ISO agents tell me background checks tell me it takes 6 months for a background check and when I mention that can't be right because the average processing time is 100 days sayats not my Dept/job to ISO agents say well let me take a look when I've called and questioned why it was taking so long on my background check considering whom I work for and the ISO agent explaining all of what's happening and going and checking when the requests were sent out. If mine had indeed came back and if my fiancées has came back yet. She told me the process that it goes through and why it sometimes takes a bit of time. So I think it varies depending on the agent. 

 

[lon552 437]

3 hours ago, spike198 said:

Hi everyone!  Just reading through all the new comments about changing the page on the calendar and being excited about it becoming July.  I thought it was just me but apparently not!  Normally I won't wish away my summer because I love it so much, but this year is the exception to the rule! 

That's the beauty of Florida. We have summer most of the year. However, I'm with you on wishing through July. I'm so ready for my sweetheart to be here sharing some sun on the beach with me. I haven't had the heart to go to the beach alone this summer. As much as I love my vitamin sea, I'm going to wait until she's with me before I go again. 

[Estibaliz 3,037]

19 minutes ago, tcovington said:

I think it depends more so on the niceness of the customer service agent or ISO agent you get. I've had ISO agents tell me background checks tell me it takes 6 months for a background check and when I mention that can't be right because the average processing time is 100 days sayats not my Dept/job to ISO agents say well let me take a look when I've called and questioned why it was taking so long on my background check considering whom I work for and the ISO agent explaining all of what's happening and going and checking when the requests were sent out. If mine had indeed came back and if my fiancées has came back yet. She told me the process that it goes through and why it sometimes takes a bit of time. So I think it varies depending on the agent. 

 

Did she actually explain you any bits on how the background checks work? I'm curious about that, especially what they can possibly be checking for us foreigners

[tcovington 175]

4 minutes ago, Estibaliz said:

Did she actually explain you any bits on how the background checks work? I'm curious about that, especially what they can possibly be checking for us foreigners

She said they run it through FBI systems and they investigate any hits that came up. In speaking to a friend that does federal background checks explained those with common names have more hits and they scour all databases they have connection too. So if your name is John Doe, your background check will take longer than Blue IVY carter. Being a citizen doesn't seem to help or hinder as they are looking at world wide ties not just national ones. At least that's what I took from the friend and the ISO agent. 

[lon552 437]

9 minutes ago, tcovington said:

I think it depends more so on the niceness of the customer service agent or ISO agent you get. I've had ISO agents tell me background checks tell me it takes 6 months for a background check and when I mention that can't be right because the average processing time is 100 days sayats not my Dept/job to ISO agents say well let me take a look when I've called and questioned why it was taking so long on my background check considering whom I work for and the ISO agent explaining all of what's happening and going and checking when the requests were sent out. If mine had indeed came back and if my fiancées has came back yet. She told me the process that it goes through and why it sometimes takes a bit of time. So I think it varies depending on the agent. 

 

Yeah. I believe I over-generalized the response. I know there's a chance that you can get a helpful agent. I believe they have the option of taking the easy way out of answering the inquiry and giving the canned response to customers that may not meet the published working date timeline. Some use it. Some don't. 

[tcovington 175]

11 minutes ago, Estibaliz said:

Did she actually explain you any bits on how the background checks work? I'm curious about that, especially what they can possibly be checking for us foreigners

Realized I didn't fully answer your question. ISO agent said they are making sure you've not been married before or are no longer married and are not a territorist. 

[tcovington 175]

1 minute ago, lon552 said:

Yeah. I believe I over-generalized the response. I know there's a chance that you can get a helpful agent. I believe they have the option of taking the easy way out of answering the inquiry and giving the canned response to customers that may not meet the published working date timeline. Some use it. Some don't. 

That I fully agree with. I feel bad for them because I know I've taken my frustration out on a few of them and they go through that all day from all the calls the receive. So I'm very appreciative when I get a good/nice one. But those rude ones make you want to punch them in the throat. 

[tcovington 175]

Does any one know how long after background checks are completed that they sit down and review your case? Something I was reading say they review it before background checks? That's how they know if you haven't signed a form or have the incorrect form, etc.

[Estibaliz 3,037]

6 minutes ago, tcovington said:

Realized I didn't fully answer your question. ISO agent said they are making sure you've not been married before or are no longer married and are not a territorist. 

Thank you! Always good to understand better what's going on

[Estibaliz 3,037]

6 minutes ago, tcovington said:

Does any one know how long after background checks are completed that they sit down and review your case? Something I was reading say they review it before background checks? That's how they know if you haven't signed a form or have the incorrect form, etc.

No idea on what order they do work really, but the part about incorrect forms and fees and missing signatures is a first step they do at Texas center, because some petitions are rejected right there and then because of that.

Edited June 30, 2017 by Estibaliz

[lon552 437]

13 minutes ago, tcovington said:

She said they run it through FBI systems and they investigate any hits that came up. In speaking to a friend that does federal background checks explained those with common names have more hits and they scour all databases they have connection too. So if your name is John Doe, your background check will take longer than Blue IVY carter. Being a citizen doesn't seem to help or hinder as they are looking at world wide ties not just national ones. At least that's what I took from the friend and the ISO agent. 

Good information. I have a lot of experience with background checks and security clearances and I have suspected that the huge disparity in people getting their NOA2 versus their filing date was largely due to the background investigation process.

[lon552 437]

18 minutes ago, tcovington said:

Does any one know how long after background checks are completed that they sit down and review your case? Something I was reading say they review it before background checks? That's how they know if you haven't signed a form or have the incorrect form, etc.

I believe the background investigation is the last part of the process. Simply because it's the most expensive aspect of the process. If your package fails to meet the minimum criteria for the visa they're not going to waste money on the investigation. They have an investigative service that provides the background checks. The duration of the investigation has many factors. Workload of the investigator and just the simple availability of people of interest for interview can have a profound effect on the length of time it takes. If it's anything like the DHS background check you're looking at a minimum of three weeks. 

[spike198 506]

1 hour ago, lon552 said:

That's the beauty of Florida. We have summer most of the year. However, I'm with you on wishing through July. I'm so ready for my sweetheart to be here sharing some sun on the beach with me. I haven't had the heart to go to the beach alone this summer. As much as I love my vitamin sea, I'm going to wait until she's with me before I go again. 

It's funny that you say that about not having the heart to go without her.. I feel the same way about a lot of things as we get closer to being together.  I just don't want to do certain things until he's here.  It's so bizarre but I guess it's a pretty common thing.  

[tcovington 175]

17 hours ago, lon552 said:

Good information. I have a lot of experience with background checks and security clearances and I have suspected that the huge disparity in people getting their NOA2 versus their filing date was largely due to the background investigation process.

That's the takeaway I'm getting as well. Those with more original names are going to get responses faster  as less hits are going to be generated that aren't related.